Book Review: Bob Marley – The Untold Story

In the summer of my 9th grade year, I had the chance to visit Jamaica on a mission trip.  Since that time, I have been a fan of Bob Marley’s music and his legend, but didn’t completely understand how he has become such an iconic symbol of the peace I strive for in the world.  After two library renewals, I finally finished Bob Marley: The Untold Story by Chris Salewicz.  If “overly descriptive” is possible outside of Dickens’ literature, this book comes close.  Hidden in the detailed and poetically connected recounts of concerts, conversations, and events from the entire life of this third-world rock star, is an understanding of Marley’s profound effect on the world.

Regardless of your position on his Rastafari religion and its associated methods of reaching reasoned enlightenment, Salewicz’ reveals humane and intellectual traits that made Bob Marley not only successful, but influential as a leader.  As our society begins to realize again that localism, eating healthy, daily exercise, and pursuing a passion with discipline, integrity, and intent are the routes to freedom and social improvement, Bob Marley lived those tenets for his whole existence.  I was dismayed with some of the choices he made in relationships (apparently he didn’t value monogamy).  However, it appeared that even in his infidelity he was forthright and took responsibility for the welfare of those around him. It hurts whenever you find a hero’s flawed humanity.  Salewicz’ concluding sentence concisely identifies why Bob Marley can remain on my hero list for creating social justice, despite any other inconsistencies in his person: “Isn’t it curious that Bob Marley is seen as a rebel because he had a genuine belief in peace and an end to oppression?”
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I’ll give this one 2 out of 5 SutterStars because it kept me interested in each next adventure and tactfully hid various song lyrics through the prose.  However, I found myself scanning paragraphs instead of deeply reading at times as the author’s intimate knowledge of the time period and various players, right down to record industry publicists or back-up keyboard players often took on their own storylines unrelated to Marley’s journey.

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One Response to Book Review: Bob Marley – The Untold Story

  1. Lyn Sutterlin says:

    Walt–You remind me of how intense the “coming of age” period can be–that you were moved and impressed by a life (Bob Marley) in a culture that was entirely novel to you at age 15! Why don’t YOU write the Bio on Doc Watson, who North Carolina is grieving just now? For certain, ole “Doc” could see and hear better than most of us…..